Belarus President Defuses Armed Insurrection in Russia

June 24, 2022 (EIRNS)—The immediate crisis around the movement of a column of forces of the Wagner private military company toward Moscow appears to have been defused by the intervention of Aleksandr Lukashenko, President of Belarus. “This morning President of Russia Vladimir Putin informed his Belarusian counterpart about the situation in Russia’s south that had been caused by the private military company Wagner. The heads of state agreed on joint actions,” the Belarusian presidential press service told Belarus Telegraph Agency, BelTA. “Acting upon the agreement with the Russian leader, the Belarus president additionally clarified the situation using his own channels and held negotiations with Wagner's boss Yevgeny Prigozhin with approval of the Russian President.”

“The negotiations lasted for the entire day,” the press statement reported further.

“As a result, the sides agreed that it is unacceptable to start a bloodbath in Russia’s territory. Yevgeny Prigozhin accepted Aleksandr Lukashenko’s proposal on stopping the advance of Wagner’s armed units in Russia’s territory and on further steps meant to de-escalate tensions. At present an absolutely advantageous and acceptable variant to defuse the situation is available, including safety guarantees for fighters of the private military company Wagner.”

BelTA then reported that Wagner columns that had been moving towards Moscow had turned around and were heading in the reverse direction. “Understanding the entire responsibility that Russian blood may be spilt on both sides, we are turning back our columns and are going backwards to field camps according to plan,” it quoted Prigozhin as saying.

Lukashenko then called Putin to inform him of the results of his negotiations with Prigozhin. “The Russian president expressed support and thanked the Belarusian counterpart for the work he had done,” BelTA reported.